ABSTRACT
This chapter examines this ability in Australia and New Zealand. Australia is a party to a number of international conventions and declarations which impose obligations to eliminate disability discrimination when ratified in Australian law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The chapter looks at the situation in Australia, examining such legislation as the Disability Discrimination Act and Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act, as well as for minorities with a disability the Racial Discrimination Act and Racial Hatred Act, and for women with a disability the Sex Discrimination Act. New Zealand has ratified international covenants, which obligate governments to ensure equal rights to enjoy all economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. The chapter looks at the situation in New Zealand, examining such legislation as the Treaty of Waitangi, Bill of Rights, and Human Rights and Human Rights Amendment Act, as well as for minorities with a disability the Race Relations Act and Health and Disability Commissioner Act.
